SCARPA Men's SL M3 Backpacking Boot

[kozevian]

Just ordered a pair off the interwebs (found they were $450 AUD in stores here in Australia, managed to pick them up for $178 online - I have heard there are extortionate taxes in place for NZ and AUS in comparison to Europe and the US).

They seem like a sound option, full leather, limited stitching, Vibram soles.

Pretty excited to wear these in when they arrive. Have not seen a thread dedicated to these great boots.

Anyone with any tips on how to wear-in full-grain leather boots. I have heard filling them with warm water and wearing them until they dry is an option. Although I am a bit unsure, would this process not weaken the weather and solidity? I have talked to many stores around and they have given me some ideas. Perhaps just wear them as much as possible

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[stu]

I have had 3 pairs of these boots & generally have been very happy with them.
They are solid & great for rough / off track walking &/or multi day walks with heavy loads.
They are terrible on tracks / roads etc. you feel like you are wearing Herman Munster style cinder blocks on your feet, very uncomfortable.
My 3 pairs have not needed any wearing in at all, maybe i've just been lucky?
I pretty much took them from the box to the mountains & next to no rubbing.
I'd suggest looking after them better than I have - I get lazy & fail to wax them so the leather has deteriorated quicker than they should have.
The other spot where they are prone to damage is the toe rand / leather join, it comes apart over time, hard to avoid & no problems still functionally.

I'll probably go a different pair next time, just to try somethin g different (maybe some Zamberlans).

[north-north-west]

My 3 pairs have not needed any wearing in at all, maybe i've just been lucky?

You just have really weird feet.

The old army method for wearing in leather boots was to pee in them and leave them overnight. (I think you emptied the stuff out before wearing them.) Hot water would work just as well. The idea is to soften the leather without damaging it, and getting it wet is the best way to do that.
Then make sure you maintain them properly. Clean and wax/snowseal them regularly.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I've only had one pair of Scarpas so far, but im with Stu. Wore em straight out of the box and they felt great.

[Azza]

The old army method for wearing in leather boots was to pee in them and leave them overnight.

Some people are just into that kinda thing I guess...

I've had about 3 or 4 pairs of SL's over the years and I just put 'em on and never had a need to wear them in.

[north-north-west]

*shudder*
You can have them. I'm sticking with Asolo.

[ILUVSWTAS]

*shudder*
You can have them. I'm sticking with Asolo.

Hmm some of them actually look alright!! what are their prices like?? I like the look of these...

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl= ... 66&bih=636

[north-north-west]

Asolos aren't cheap. I think my current pair cost $400 from a shop in Melbourne. Or possibly more. But they've done 2 years very hard walking and the leather's still holding up beautifully. Starting to run a little low on tread, though.

They fit me, which is unprecedented. If Scarpas fit you, Asolos might not. Boots a re a very personal thing.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yes I agree. and now I've found a good pair I think I'll stick to em.
I did look at some Zamberlans recently but I wasnt convinced!! Too much stitching and too similar in design to the mammuts for my liking!!

[chiefscumbag]

I have been wearing sls since 1990 maybe 12 pairs in that time and have found them great boots had a brief problem with the soles coming apart in 2002 2003 but scarpa sorted that were the standard but for guides for many years

[Nuts]

Just a couple of points (im trying to move away from heavy boots so they dont really hold much interest for me):
Asolo are a dime a doz here: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Asolo.html (and a few other places).
Zamberlan make 'full wrap' style boots illuv...? There can be no less stitching..? They also last as long or longer than scarpa SL !
As with most times this comes up though, there'll always be devotees to one brand or other 'never used anything else' lol...

[ULWalkingPhil]

I spoke to a guy recently that does a lot of hiking and he will never touch the heavy leather hiking boots again, He uses shoes with quality soles such as Vibram, Told me there a lot lighter and more comfy to wear with no fear of blisters, He can get a lot more distance walking in a day with shoes than he ever could with boots, because of the weight saving. I'm beginning to think his onto something here, My boots are restricting my miles I can walk each day, because of the pain they cause to my heels, particularly after walking uphilll most of the day. I might go down the same path he has. Recently hiked the Great Walk at Fraser Island and after a couple of days with the heavy boots on, I had to take them off and hiked in my Crocs, They where far more comfy than my hiking boots and I was able to walk a lot faster and covered more ground in a day than I could with my boots.

You guys that find boots fit them well are lucky. I can't find a pair that fits me well. I just don't think there is one out there that will ever fit my foot. I've tried hard finding a pair. The Scarpa SL when I tried them in store, felt like a torture instrument to me.

[ULWalkingPhil]

The boots I own now are Zamberlan Baffin's, Nice boot, only had them for a couple of months. Feel comfy to wear, but was surprised to find my heels started to get blisters on them after the 2nd day of hiking on the Canondale Great Walk last weekend. By the fourth day, I had to pull out of the walk, because of the pain on my heels. Wish I had my Crocs with me. Was surprised the boots caused problems on my heel. They where fine at the blue mountains, but for some reason the caused havoc to my feet last weekend.

Love the look of the Scarpa SL M3 boots, but they will not fit my wide foot. Otherwise I would have purchased a pair years ago. When I hiked a lot in my 20's I used to always use cheap shoes, never had a problem. Might go back to wearing shoes I think. Almost all members in my Bushwalking club use quality shoes with no problems.

[stepbystep]

It's all about durability. If I was walking on good tracks like the OT or at Mt Field I'd be wearing lightweight boots/shoes but they fall to bits doing the type of walking I do.

My Scarpa Trek Pro's have only lasted 18 months but I haven't cared for them post walk very well. I'd foresee getting 2-3 years out of a pair of SL's if I cleaned them and cared for them properly.
Lightwieght shoes would be lucky to last more than a couple of off track expeditions.

I did have a pair of shoes once but they only lasted 3 months of on track walking, I did however do a lot of boulder hopping in them and the dolerite shredded them.
There was a comment somewhere about the acidity of the mud in Tasmania playing havoc on stitching in gaiters, same could be said for boots. I believe this is a major factor to gear fatigue down here.

If the shoe fits.....

[Nuts]

It's always amusing to see a pair of volleys somewhere in the most epic trip reports. At the same time iv'e seen many people in $400 full grain leather boots skip around puddles. 'Of course your feet are dry, you haven't stepped in any water'? I don't know what will stand up as well as boots, Ive tried a few light boots and shoes so far and none have lasted long (and gore liners are just a croc..) even on tracks.. I guess the search continues, the (instantly recognisable) drop in (initial and wet) weight and reduced fatigue have been enough to keep trying ( ) .

[ILUVSWTAS]

The boots I own now are Zamberlan Baffin's, Nice boot, only had them for a couple of months. Feel comfy to wear, but was surprised to find my heels started to get blisters on them after the 2nd day of hiking on the Canondale Great Walk last weekend. By the fourth day, I had to pull out of the walk, because of the pain on my heels. Wish I had my Crocs with me. Was surprised the boots caused problems on my heel. They where fine at the blue mountains, but for some reason the caused havoc to my feet last weekend.

Love the look of the Scarpa SL M3 boots, but they will not fit my wide foot. Otherwise I would have purchased a pair years ago. When I hiked a lot in my 20's I used to always use cheap shoes, never had a problem. Might go back to wearing shoes I think. Almost all members in my Bushwalking club use quality shoes with no problems.

The Scarpas SL range also does a model BX made especially for people with wide feet, have you tried those??

[ULWalkingPhil]

The boots I own now are Zamberlan Baffin's, Nice boot, only had them for a couple of months. Feel comfy to wear, but was surprised to find my heels started to get blisters on them after the 2nd day of hiking on the Canondale Great Walk last weekend. By the fourth day, I had to pull out of the walk, because of the pain on my heels. Wish I had my Crocs with me. Was surprised the boots caused problems on my heel. They where fine at the blue mountains, but for some reason the caused havoc to my feet last weekend.

Love the look of the Scarpa SL M3 boots, but they will not fit my wide foot. Otherwise I would have purchased a pair years ago. When I hiked a lot in my 20's I used to always use cheap shoes, never had a problem. Might go back to wearing shoes I think. Almost all members in my Bushwalking club use quality shoes with no problems.

The Scarpas SL range also does a model BX made especially for people with wide feet, have you tried those??

I don't know, I've been to Paddy Pallin store in Sydney and Brisbane as well as a couple others that sell the Scarpa Boots and none of them could find a pair that would fit me. I presume they would have tried the wider model. A store in Sydney advised me against them, told me there to heavy of a boot and to purchase something a lot lighter. He didn't seam to like the SL M3 boots.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Salesmen will tell you anything to get a sale.
As SBS said it's probably different for the walking you do, but I tend to kill boots very fast and need the strongest on offer, after several brands Scarpas are head and shoulders above all else.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Salesmen will tell you anything to get a sale.
As SBS said it's probably different for the walking you do, but I tend to kill boots very fast and need the strongest on offer, after several brands Scarpas are head and shoulders above all else.

I learnt that the hard way, "Salesman will tell you anything to get a sale" I was told I needed size 13 boots from a reputable store in Brisbane and I wear size 10.5, I tried the boots, needless to say within the week I had to get them replaced. The where the only boots they had in store that I could get my feet in, so the salesman talked me into these monsters to get a sale and silly me, trusted him. I did receive a phone call from management and apologised, after I complained.

Every boot I've tried size 10.5 are way to narrow for my feet, some I couldn't even get my foot in them, and yet with shoes, I don't have that problem.

I'm not a happy chappy, till I can go and do long walks with no pain on my foot, Always wanted a pair of Scarpa boots, But no one could provide me a boot that would fit me.

I think I'm going to go back to wearing shoes.

[Nuts]

Sounds like you need more BX, less BS

[ULWalkingPhil]

the Zamberlan boots I own now which was replaced, are size 12, MD told me there the right fit for me, But I don't think they know Sh##, to be honest. Even these size 12 boots where pressing on my big toes, however now the boots don't cause any problems with my toes, they have spread out a bit, but being size 12, I think there to long. MD told me they would be fine, but there not. My heels move around to much in them, causing pain. On the flat there fine, but as soon I walk more than a couple km's up hill all hell brakes loose. I've even tried 3 pairs of socks last weekend and that made no difference. I just couldn't wear them anymore, and had to cut my hike short as I had nothing else to wear on my feet.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Im not sure how others feel about this but i've found wearing more than one decent pair of socks can cause more friction and more rubbing as your foot slides around alot more.

[stepbystep]

Im not sure how others feel about this but i've found wearing more than one decent pair of socks can cause more friction and more rubbing as your foot slides around alot more.

I used to wear a thin pair of cotton socks with a thicker pair over the top, didn't have any friction problems and in fact this method stopped any blisters.
I now have 3 pairs of thick merino socks that are fantastic and I don't need the cotton ones any more. Bought them at a farmers market for $10 each

[sthughes]

I have some SL M3's and could hardly be happier. No break in required, comfy, solid as and super grippy. I do find them a bit overkill on good tracks and with light loads, I prefer my Keen Oregon PCT's for those situations (but they leak).

Boot's are a personal thing, I like the Asolos but found they tended to poke into the top of my foot at the bottom of the tounge (like my old Scarpa Trek Pro did). I looked at the Zamberlan full leather boots and was quite impressed, but they were a bit too flexible for what I was after. The Keens I have are wonderful for me, but do leak a little and when I have a very heavy pack (120kg GVM) they are too flexible, but I still wear them a lot otherwise.

BTW, the BXX is the wide last, the BX is normal width.

P.S. I use thin merino (Injinji) liners and Explorer outers (cheap) which works a treat for me.

[doogs]

I grew up getting told to wear 2 pairs and always used to get blisters. I now only wear one now I only get blisters when I get wet feet. (And I wear Scarpas!)

[ULWalkingPhil]

Im not sure how others feel about this but i've found wearing more than one decent pair of socks can cause more friction and more rubbing as your foot slides around alot more.

It certainly did not help me over the weekend wearing the extra pair of socks, Maybe I've still got some hope for these boots. I'll try just the one pair of socks next time. They where not to bad with a pair of liners and some Horizon socks that where worth $55.00 from MD, I was getting sore heels, but they where not as bad as last weekend. The Horizon socks have worn away at the back on the heels, Took the socks back to MD last week, while at the Gold Coast and they where surprised to see those socks do that, they gave me a credit on something else in store and took the socks back. The socks I had only worn them a few times. I think they done that because my boots moving about to much in the heel area. The Horizon socks are thick, So last weekend I bought along a few extra pairs of socks to help fit my feet tighter into the boots, but that backfired big time.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks Hughsie (and the private msg forum stalker) for correcting me in the width thing. BXX

[Nuts]

the Zamberlan boots I own now which was replaced, are size 12, MD told me there the right fit for me, But I don't think they know Sh##, to be honest.

Did they mention Zamberlan 'H' sizes? When I asked at MD's they explained it was a half size ie 10H=10.5. It doesnt mean that at all.....

Perhaps ask them to do another exchange for you (when they work out what that confusing 'H' does mean)

Failing that, if you can find someone who stocks Meindl they might be worth a look. They have very wide options, probably a bigger reputation than either Zamberlan or Scarpa (where they're from). I havent used them myself...

[Nuts]

Thanks Hughsie (and the private msg forum stalker) for correcting me in the width thing. BXX

Ahh.. the 'PMS' stikes again

[ULWalkingPhil]

If only I could toughen my feet up some how to with stand the boots, particularly my heels. I doubt they would exchange them again, although they did tell me that these are the right fit for me. I've never had blisters till I started trying to wear hiking boots. Just wish they had of given my money back instead, so I can look else where for boots, I don't think Zamberlan or MD have a boot that fit me, even though they think they do, so far what they have supplied me have been a nightmare to wear up hill. The baffin's are the best so far, but I think there still to big for my foot, but they do fit perfectly around my wide foot, however that length is just to long for my feet. I have size 10-11 feet with wider feet than normal, and they sold me size 12 boots, Basically I been fitted to the width but not the length. Never before have a suffered with so much pain in my foot with blisters, and I'm not enjoying them. it's started getting to the point where it's starting to effect my ability to go hiking now. Was so annoyed I had to pull out of the walk last weekend and very disappointed.